St. Brendan's
SYDENHAM
Charities Number: 10326S
Trustee's Annual Report
For the Year ended 31 December 2023
St Brendan's Parish is a registered charity: No 103265

St. Brendan's
SYDENHAM
Trujtee's Annual Rèport
For Year Ended December 2023
Charities No: 103265
Charities Name". St Brendan's Chur¢h of Ireland Church
Address: 64A Larkfield Road. Belfast. BT4 1QE
Current Trustees:
Chair- Claire Pearson
Beth Ginnett
Claire McBride
Elizabeth Dall
Gillian Goman
Karen Kane
Lauren Gorman
Laureene Ginnett
Lynda Storey
Margaret Harris
Neil Gomian
Robert Galbrarth
Robyn Mann
Ted Ginnett
Cameron Gorman
Treasurer: Lauren Gorman
Hon. Secretary.. Lynda Storey
Bank:
Independent Examiner:
PGR Accountants Limited
Unit 2 Channel Wharf
Ulster Bank Limf(ed
Connswater Branch
Arches Retail Park
21 Old Channel Road
Belfasl
Belfast
BT5 4AF
BT3 9DE
St Brendan's Parish is a registered charity: No 103265

St.Brendan's
SYDENHAM
Trustee's Annual Report
For Year Ended December 2023
Trustees who served this chanty dunng ihe period shrnvn are.
Chair- Claire Pearson las of 0111012022)
Beth Girsnett
Claire McBride
Elizabelh Dall
Gillian Goman
Hazel Graham
Karen Kane
Lauren Goman- TreaSu￿r
Laureene Ginnett
Lynda Slorey- Hon. SeuEt8ry
Margaret Hams
Neil Gorman
Robert Galbrajth
Robyn Mann
Ted Ginnett
Cameron Gom)an
St Brendan's Parish is a regISte￿d charity: No 103265

St.Brendan's
SYDENHAM
Structure, Governance and Management
St Brendan's Is a church govemed by Ihe Laws of the Church of Ireland and run by a Seled
Vestry
Recruiting and Appointing trustees
The select vestry is made up of an Incumbent. or member of the clergy officiating at the
pansh, the assistant curates.
The Church Wardens- One is appointed by the incumbent, and one is voted for by the
Select Vestry
The Glebe Wardens- Again, one is appointed by the incumbent. and one ts voted for by the
Select Vesty.
Of the remaining General Vestry members. a group shall be selected by voles lo act on
behalf of the General Vestry. and these shall be the tnjslees.
At Ihe s￿neSt possible opportunity after the Annual General Meeting, an Honorary
Secretsry and Treasurer shall be appointed from these.
People may serve a5 Offi￿ bearers without tEcoming Trustees, However. this will mean that
they are not voting members of the Select Vestry.
St Brendan's Parish is a registered charity: No 103265

St.Brendan's
SYDENHAM
Objectives and Activities
The main aim of Sl B￿ndan.$ Church is lo reach Ihe community of Sydenham wilh the
Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ and lo reach out lo the pwr and Ihose in need wrthin our
¢ommunty.
The charitable purpose of the Church of Ireland is the advancement of reloion.
The principal function of St BTendan's Church is to supp)rt the advancement d the
Christian religion by promoting, through the work of si Brendan's Church Sydenham. the
whole mission of the Church's pastoral. evangelistic, sccial. and ecurnenical values, and
motivations. Being open lo and engaging with society as a while and offenng support for
those needing help are fundamenlal lo Ihe praclical delivery of the benefits of Christianity.
As a result of activity in pursurt of Ihe advan￿ment of Ihe Christian religion, Sl
Brendan's Church. Sydenharn has custody of the property, and of records, material, and
artefacts of significance lo the cultural and religious henlage and maintenance of wh￿h is
undertaken by the selecl vestry ol the Sl Brendan's Church of Ireland.
Achievements. Perfomian¢e & Public Benefit
Our youth group"Urban Saints" grew in number in 2023. with more and more
children from Ihe local area joining us on Monday Nights for fun and fellowship. The group
runs from P1- P6 and meets every Monday night from 6.30- 7.45 pm.
Every Wednesday night from 5 00pm- 6.30pm. the Slimming Wotid group meet in
our sports hall and a group from AA meet in our side chapel from 8.00pm- 10.00pm.
Our"H U.G.S" tols. group has grown S￿nIfICantty, seeing an increased of parents
and grandparents also attending church on Sundays. This group has allowed us as a church
to support parents and grandparents of Sydenham and develop a relationship with more
members of our community.
Café church has continued once a month wlh numbers continuing to grow each
month. This Servi￿ allows families lo feel comfortable lo attend a church service which may
not be their nom. We have family fn-endty talks. activilies. songs and then lunch is provided
after We hope lo see a continuation of growth in café church especially through the link lo
HUGS.
Our"Women of Worth" (WOW gfOUP met once a month for walks. c¢Jokery and craft
nights (including a packed out Christmas wreath making evening) and outings such as to
Eden Pollery.
The Men's Shed work came to completion with the floor being laid and walls painted.
Men from the community have come for football and food nights.
st Brendan's Parish is a registered charity- No 103265

St.Brendan's
SYDENHAM
stsrting in Juty, our'Explore' group has been a great su¢c￿. This group is run on
the second Tuesday of Ihe monlh and allows telievers and non-believers lo ask any
questions they may have aboul the fa¢lh. Month by month Ihe numbers gfow and has
enc)Juraged attendance on a Sunday.
Dunng the year, our church has joined wrth Knocknagoney Partsh and Holywood
Pansh for monthly worship nighls. This has been a fantastic opportunty lo grow inler-church
relationships but also to encourage all local communities lo come out and be together. The
numbers have Increased dramalicalty from Ihe first worship se￿￿e lo Ihe end of the year.
The worship team consists of members of all three churches and continues lo expand monlh
on monlh.
In addition lo the ongoing programmes we also ran a number of events including a
Coronation event on Sunday P May attended by over 200 people in the community. 11
involved an open air church seriice. aftemoon leas, Inflatsbles, crafts. food, ccrfonalion cake
and queen Ka￿nI
Coming Into the summer Ihere was many events for children, young people and their
families including a mobile ztr) visit. Urban Saints party, 'wee critters,, Spnngvale fami,
sports and lun days. teddy bear picnics and more Aftef the summer we held a 'back to
school. communty event along the theme of a fvnfair that was well attended.
Al St Brendan's. Chnstmas outreach is always a huge date in our calendar. On
Saturday 2n0 December. we held our Chnstmas Village al the Church with local craft stalls. a
quad train, Chnslmas f(K)d & dnnk, the salvation amry band, and our Christmas tree light
switch on. There was a tumoul of over SOO people who had a great day. This wa5 followed
by 2 nights of our Santa's grotto in the church during the week. Famil*s were able lo enter
the church for a Narnia themed wonderland. Our leam had crafts and Christmas food & drink
ready before the journeyed up through the wardrobe and through our light tunnel lo see
Santa and r￿1ve a gift. All slols were filled for this event and had great feedback from the
communty.
As usual, the generosity of our commursty was second to none. We were blessed
with donations of toys, frx)d an¢J vouchers s for those in our area who required a little help or
encouragement over the Chnstmas pencd. At Christmas. we al Sl Brendars's slfive to show
God's love through our acts of service out lo the ccKnmunty.
Our Christingle service was held on Sunday D￿rnber 2023 We held an
outdoor carol service on the 1P ￿ December joining wlh Strand Presbytenan and
Sydenham Meth¢ylist and our Chrislmas moming seNice.
St BTendan's Parish is a regISte￿d charity: No 103265

St.Brendan's
SYDENHAM
Ser¥ices
Rev Claire Pearson lead m05t services in the year unlil her maternity leave started mid-April.
From he￿, Andrew Brannigan and Paula Mclfviaine l¢)ok over in a pastoral role for all
Sunday services and mid-week activilies.
The worship was led by the youlh band or on piano by Margarel each week.
Each of the organisalions that use our premises, who work with young people. musl have
Child Protection Policy in place.
The Parish has given careful consideralTon lo the Charity Commission for Northem Ireland's
guidance on public benefit to ensufe that the activities entered into during the year have
helped lo achieve the Parish's objectives and activities, as well as providing public benefit.
Trustees Remuneration and Benefits
There were no Iruslee s remuneration or benefits for the Year Ended 31 * December 2022
There were no Ifuslees, expenses paid for in the Year Ended 31X December 2022.
Statement of Trustees Responsibilities
The Trustees were responsible for the Pfeparing of the Trustees Report and the Statement
of Receipts and Payments and Slalemenl of Assets and Liabilities in accordance with
applicable law and regulations The Trustees are responsible for keeping accounting records
that are sufficient to show and explain the Pansh's transaction and disclose with reasonable
accuracy al any time the assets and liabilities of the Parish. They are also responsible for
safeguarding the assets of the Parish and hence for taking reasonable sleps for the
prevention and detection of fraud and other Irregularities
Signed on behalf of the Trustees.
Trustee 1
Name: tobyn rtn £
Date: 21 104 129
Trustee 2:
Name:
Date." Zl
St Brendan's Parish is a registered charity: No 10326S